- Robert Siegel via tbo.com.
A waterspout/tornado came ashore Tuesday morning, briefly touching down in Tampa. It picked up and dropped debris in the area, causing damage to establishments in Downtown Tampa and Harbour Island, including Cafe Dufrain.
"We were here and the wind picked up, threw the doors right open," said Cafe Dufrain owner and operator Andrew Bonnemort. "We tried to keep the doors closed, there was stuff whipping down the street."
Bonnemort said the cafe's patio furniture was "thrown into the bay."
"The doors flew open so hard it bent the door hinges," he added.
The Westin Harbour Island lost part of its roof, and debris was blown into the adjacent complexes. Nearby Gorrie Elementary school was not affected. No injuries were reported.
See photos of the damage at WTSP. A tornado watch for the Tampa Bay area remains in effect until 3 p.m.
